This is tenor Salvatore Licitra’s second solo CD, and it is far better than his first. The voice remains exciting, a true tenor with a solid top and an even range. The opening cavatina from Ernani shows a nice larmoyante quality I don’t recall from his previous work; it is most welcome. And he has plenty of power for the cabaletta. His tendency to sing at one volume level (relatively loud) appears to be abating and he is making more of an effort to shade his tone. The L’Arlesiana aria is sung with a truly stunning sweetness. He skips the alternate high-B-natural ending, seemingly for matters of taste, which is to be admired. The aria from Mefistofele is delivered gently and with the right air of thoughtfulness.
Chenier’s last-act aria is mournful and sensitive, with lovely legato. In fact, judging by his delivery of both of Chenier’s arias, this is a superb role for him. His “Dio mi potevi” from Otello is striking–big and rueful, lacking only those special insights to bring the character vividly to life. But his tone is grand and pure. “Vesti la giubba” is restrained but emotional, with a subtle hint of bitterness rather than any sort of wild outburst.
Licitra remains a good singer who has yet to offer a truly individual stamp to any work (as does, say, Rolando Villazon), but he’s the real ticket: a true Italian tenor with a handsome voice. He has no bad habits, offers no unnecessary sobs, gives us no explosive consonants for effect. The top doesn’t quite blossom as grandly as you would expect from a voice of such hue, but he may be intentionally de-baritonizing his sound. In brief, this is the best work Licitra has done on CD so far, firmly assisted by the leadership of Roberto Rizzi Brignoli, who gives far more support than the mundane Carlo Rizzi on the tenor’s last CD.
